How much does a business website cost and what should it include?
A business website should explain what your company does, who it helps and how a potential customer can contact you. Its price depends on the work needed to achieve that, not just the number of pages.
Consider this hypothetical example: two companies each want a five-page website. One already has suitable copy, photographs and clearly defined services. The other also needs writing, new images and help organising the information. The page count is the same, but the workload is not.
What should the proposal include?
A clear proposal names the pages being built and explains who supplies the text and images. It should also cover mobile layouts, the contact form, checks before launch and guidance on managing the site. Anything excluded should be stated upfront.
Ask for plain explanations of technical terms. Basic SEO means preparing pages for search engines; it does not guarantee a first-place Google ranking. Measurement setup helps you understand where visitors come from and what they do, within the limits of the available data.
What can increase the workload?
Two languages, several services, specialised forms and connections to other applications can all require additional work. When replacing an existing site, important old page addresses also need attention so that existing links do not lead visitors to missing pages.
Which costs continue after launch?
Separate the build price from ongoing costs. The domain is the website address; hosting is the service that keeps the site available online. Licences, maintenance, backups and support may also carry recurring charges. Check the amount, payment frequency and person responsible for each service.
Does the whole site need rebuilding?
Not always. If the structure works but the copy is unclear or the form is broken, targeted improvements may be enough. A rebuild is worth considering when the existing setup cannot reasonably support the changes you need.
How do you compare two proposals?
Compare the actual work and handover, not just the price. Ask how many rounds of changes are included, what gets tested, which accounts you control and what you can edit yourself. You should know how to change ordinary text and images without relying on a supplier for every adjustment.
Explore website design and redesign for a new build. For an existing site, website management and improvement may be a better starting point.